FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2126, 11 May 1920, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

The annual meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon. There were present: — Messrs J. Linklater, W. Bock, W. E. Barber, and E. R. B. Holben, An apology for absence was received from Mr D, W. Matheson. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. On.the motion of Messrs Holben and Bock, Mr J. Linklater was unanimously elected chairman. Mr Linklater, in taking the chair, thanked members for electing him to the position, and said he would, as in the past, do his best to further the interests of the Board in every way possible. He hoped that’ at the end of the term a more satisfactory position would be disclosed, and to this end'he would assist as far as laid in his power. PONTOON FOR DREDGE.

The Board’s engineer, Mr S. Jickoll, reported that as instructed by the Board, at its last meeting, he visited Wanganui and inspected the pontoon under offer there. If was much larger than what the Board required, and would cost about £BOO (including purchase price) to make same suitable for their requirements. He did not recommend the purchase of same. In reference to the building of a pontoon to carry the dredge machinery, the .trouble had been that timber was not available. This difficulty bad now been got over, and be was now able to obtain heart rimu at favourable prices, and ho recommended this limber being used. Mr Barber said it would'be ( very necessary to see thgt it was“heart” timber that was obtained, as the other would not last.

It was decided, on tile motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Holden, that the recommendations of the engineer be adopted, and that lie be instructed to immediately order the timber required for the dredge, such timber to be passed by him.

TREASURER'S STATEMENT. The Treasurer reported" the amount to credit at the Bank,of New Zealand at £1,284 18s 9d. The receipts since last meeting were as follows: Wharfages (inwards) £IOO 9s 3d (outwards) £7l Ids fid, pilotage £3(i Os (id, lighting £l2 Ids Od, rents £lOl 15s 4d, contributions to road £7 10s Od, am] sundries £3 5s Od, a total of £342 11s 2d. The expenditure for the same period totalled £241 15s Od. PILOT’S RESIDENCE.

Mr Bock mentioned that the house on the river front rented by the Board for the use of the pdot could be purchased for £475, which he considered' a very reasonable price. It was very handily situated, being right on lhe 1 river front, and (dose to the Hags faffs. Hg moved that :-ame lie purchased by the Board on terms to lie arranged with Mr llolbeu. This was seconded by Mr Barber, and carried.

PILOT'S REPORT. The pilot' reported under dale April 30th as follows:—A. good depth of water has been maintained in the river throughout the month, but the south channel in the. upper roach to the wharf has- been used by shipping with good depth of six “feel low water, owing to the shoaling still existing on the north side. The.channel at Robinson's Bend has .■•lightly changed, and the beacons altered accordingly. A heavy southerly gale raged on the Sth and oth of April, and when abated on the 10th the channel on the bar had shifted considerably to the nortli.ward with a .depth of seven feel high water Dali spring tides, but again improved on the 14th April, when eight feet half high water neap tides was found, and since has remained good. BEACH SECTIONS.

It was reported that all the Beach sections with the exception of two had been taken up, and it was decided to engage the services of Messrs Jiekcll and Gilmonr to lay off a further 30 sections on the waterfront towards the sea beach, and ten lit the back of the jetty. All these suctions arc to be quarter

acres. TRAFFIC TO PORT. Mr Bock said that something would have' to he done to get additional traffic to the port. At the present time the s.s. Kennedy was on the slip, and would not again "visit the port for about three weeks, Mr Fuller, shipping manager for Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., had stated that an effort had been made to gel" the Blenheim to run a trip whilst the Kennedy was off the run, hut without success, the Blenheim being fully engaged elsewhere. Mr Bock suggested that a committee he set up to visit Wellington and interview Mr Fuller and see if more shipping for the port cannot be obtained, and failing any satisfaction from that quarter, other firms he interviewed with the object of getting other ves-' sels to trade to the port. The Chairman said that something must be done to increase the business at the port. Mr Holben said that he understood the different shipping people had a working arrangement whereby they did not “cut into” each other’s Trade with the different ports. Of course, if a linn were asked by the Board to open up trade with the port it might make a difference. After some further discussion it was decided to hold a special meeting of the Board at Fox ton on Friday next, at 10 o’clock, and to invite Mr Fuller to meet members at 12 nbhn to discuss the whole question of shipping.